If I was looking from the outside at the life of a Christ follower, probably the thing that would intrigue me the most would be the “talking to God” thing.  I mean, why in the world would anyone take a chance at talking to a being that you’ve only been told exists?  You’ve never actually seen God, Marty, so why talk to him and risk being linked in with the wacky crowd?

And if I were to answer myself who is looking outside at myself who is talking to God, what I would say is that I don’t fear the risk of being labeled “wacky” for God.  I do fear misrepresenting God or presenting something I say as “from God” that is not really from God, but I don’t fear being “wacky for God.”

You see, anyone who has ever been anything in regards to the passion they have for something has been labeled as “wacky” some time or another for the object of their affection.  Whether its Heath Ledger taking on the passion of acting, Ernest Hemingway and writing, or Michael Jackson, the king of pop, these people have all been labeled “excessive” for the fields of their passion.

I have a passion for God.  And though I don’t make people drink strange kool aid or tell them a space ship is going to take us all up into heaven if we destroy ourselves together, I do have a strong desire to connect with Him more than I have for making large amounts of money or “living the good life.”  So I talk to Him.

Today there will come a point where I shut my computer off, my music, my phone, and walk away from people, and I talk to only Him.  I don’t ask Him to bring me lots of good things like Santa or to heal every person I know who is deteriorating like I’m some sort of witch doctor, but I just want him to know I’m here and I’d like to know more about Him, and what he wants me to do.  I frequently share with Him some of the great things I believe him to be, and lift Him up as the most important part of my life.

And if that makes me “wacky”, so be it.

You can thank this guy for the title of this post.

I thought a lot about the value of vacation on vacation.  I know it’s a bit redundant, but thinking is occasionally a specialty of mine.  (Like the time I thought it would be a good idea to take a newspaper stand with my friend Dave, put it in the car, and take it to my apartment-well maybe not that time)

In all this thinking, I began to realize the incredible value of getting away. Not for a day or an evening, but for a good solid week or two.  To be removed from ones every day surroundings is actually quite a blessing.  Like the child or teen who goes away to camp, there’s something about removing yourself from what you’re always doing and always thinking and being with the people you’re always with that makes you appreciate what you always do, think, or who you’re with.

I can even help you to realize when you need a change in your situation.  You come away from vacation saying thinks like:
“I need to do better” 
“I need to make that change”  (not unlike M.J.’s “Man in the Mirror” mantra)
or even
“I need to get out of Dodge.”
However or whatever you might do on vacation, a week or two during specific times of the year can be a huge improvement to your life.  More than that can make you lazy.  Less than that can transform you into Dickens most prized antagonist ‘Ebenezer Scrooge’.  And it doesn’t have to be in the lap of luxury…

It just needs to be away.